This chapter provides an update, at the entry into force of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), of trade facilitation efforts worldwide, using the OECD Trade Facilitation Indicators (TFIs). The TFIs offer a snapshot of trade facilitation actions on the ground for over 160 countries, drawing on comparative data to shed light on emerging successes, opportunities, and challenges for countries worldwide.

Border agency co-operation is critical for increasing operational efficiency, facilitating legitimate trade and reducing traders’ costs at both the domestic and cross-border levels. Yet significant implementation challenges remain. This chapter explores progress to date on border agency co-operation, both domestically in terms of co-ordination among all agencies involved in the trade process at the border and across the border between agencies in neighbouring countries, whether in the form of logistics or procedural harmonisation, or integrated controls under a One-Stop Border Post. The chapter draws lessons from country experience and case studies to help identify for policy makers key challenges and factors for success.

Implementation of Single Windows remains one of the most important challenges among all the areas covered by the TFA. This chapter draws on Single Window indicators in the TFIs to assess implementation of Single Windows in 23 economies across various regions. It identifies key implications for policy makers, and in addition draws lessons from ASEAN’s experience with creating a regional Single Window.

This chapter highlights key costs and challenges in implementing trade facilitation reforms, from initial financial investments to the sustained policy commitment to adopt and maintain measures over the long term. It draws on reviews of experience in 24 developing and emerging economies to present evidence on the nature of the costs and how they compare with the benefits from implementing trade facilitation reforms.